Sweet Little Nothing

She nods as she grinds her ass into her dance partner’s groin. Stella was adamant she wanted the full college experience, and she’s well on her way to getting it.

I weave my way across the room, bobbing and dodging my way through the throng of revelers until I reach the expanse of wall I plan to occupy until it’s time to go.

The spot offers me a clear view of the room. I pick out familiar faces here and there: girls from the dorm and people from my classes. No one I want to speak to, though, so I keep my place against the wall, watching and taking it all in.

“Waiting for your next victim?” a cool, dark voice asks from my left.

“What do you want?” I ask without turning around. His voice alone sends shivers down my spine. God only knows what seeing his smug smile and sharp jaw would do to me right now.

Stupidly, I let my guard down tonight. Every single fiber of my being is telling me to run, but I refuse—partly because the thought of making a scene in front of all of these people has my skin feeling tight and itchy, and also because I refuse to give him the satisfaction of seeing me run away... again.

Sterling leans in, his breath tickling my neck and his body warming mine. “I’m just saying. Dressed the way you are, you must be looking for a good time. And I can’t help but wonder...” He trails off, skimming his nose down the column of my throat before scraping his teeth against the sensitive flesh where my neck and shoulder meet.

“Stop it!” I pray for my voice to come out firm and commanding, but seeing as God abandoned me long ago, I sound raw and needy. Which is a lie. I am a lot of things in regard to Sterling Abbot—angry, frustrated, hurt—but definitely not needy.

I try to shoulder-check him, but he bands an arm around my waist and pulls me in closer, bringing my back flush with his front. The feel of our bodies pressed together has my heart slamming against my ribs as arousal and disgust battle for dominance inside of me.

Judging from my roiling gut and damp panties, it’s a tie.

“I don’t really think you mean that, little mouse.” He rubs small circles over my exposed midriff with his thumb, and I nearly sigh in pleasure. It’s been so long since someone’s touched me with a soft hand that I can almost convince myself he’s someone else. Someone kind and caring. Someone who will value me and help me and most importantly of all, believe me.

But then he keeps talking and breaks the stupid spell. “I think you like having my attention. You probably like any guy’s attention. Don’t you?” He nudges his erection into my back, as if to prove his point.

Tears brim my lashes as I clench my thighs together. Here and now, I’m not sure which of us I hate more. Probably me, because what in God’s name is wrong with me that I’m getting turned on by the touch of a bully?

Because that’s what Sterling is, isn’t he? A bully.

“Get away from me!” I growl, my voice stronger this time around.

But Sterling only chuckles.

“Why are you doing this?”

“You know why,” he murmurs the words in my ear, dipping his index finger beneath the waistband of my skirt. “You deserve every single thing coming your way.”

“What?” It’s like I’m caught in some kind of limbo; I’m here physically, but my mind... it’s in some kind of alternate universe. It’s somewhere harsh words and soft touches belong together.

I’m so preoccupied trying to unravel the what of the night that I don’t see it coming. I don’t see her coming.

“Get away from my date, you slut!”

“What?” I ask again, still feeling untethered, like I’m floating through space, barely able to make out what’s happening right in front of me.

The feel of ice-cold liquid dripping down my face yanks me back to reality.

I swipe a hand over my eyes, wiping away both the beer and my tears. “What? Why?” I swing my gaze back to Sterling, who’s no longer touching me.

“Don’t fucking look at him!”

“Melanie?” I ask, bewildered at my RA’s behavior.

She scoffs. “I don’t know how they did things at your high school, but it’s shitty to make a move on someone else’s date!”

“I didn’t know. I swear!”

Sterling scoffs as he rounds me to stand beside Melanie. “I told her to stop. To leave me alone.” He sounds so convincing that I almost believe him. “I told her to go away, but she wouldn’t listen.”

Melanie plasters herself to his side and glares at me.

“That’s... no. That’s not true!”

“Girls like you are the reason good men cheat and marriages end!”

Lamely, all I can think to say is, “Good men don’t cheat.”